Publication

Resolve Publication

The State of Secularism in Chadian Higher Education: Testing Perceived Ties to Violent Extremism

Remadji Hoinathy and Daniel Eizenga

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12 March 2019

abstract

Debates about the secular character of the state and the role of religion in the public sphere in the Lake Chad Basin reveal important socio-religious divisions in higher education. If left unaddressed, these divisions, coupled with other social grievances, could increase social polarization and facilitate the spread of extremist sentiment.

The number of higher education institutions in Chad has increased since the 2000s, providing increased access to universities for citizens. Still, low enrollment rates, recent austerity measures, and questions regarding the erosion of the secular nature of higher education institutions have had adverse impacts, as well as the potential to foster further grievances.

Despite the state’s secular commitments to and oversight of higher education, non-state religious organizations wield significant influence over certain components of Chad’s higher education system — including confessional universities and a semi-public university that is funded at least in part by the government; curricula; and language teacher training.

Higher education in Chad is committed to bilingualism. In practice, however, education is subject to divisions between the country’s two official languages, French and Arabic, which separate university students, faculty members, and administrators. These language divisions frequently correspond to or overlap with the religious identifications of students and faculty members and limit opportunities for some students.

State and government policies that support bilingualism and that are perceived as promoting favoritism of one religion over others run the risk of exacerbating inter and intra-religious tensions. Such an effect could contribute to the erosion of the state’s secular character and increase the vulnerability of Chad to violent extremist threats and actors such as Boko Haram.